Graphics card performance list

Below you can find a summary of mainly desktop graphics cards in which you can see how the overall perform compared toe each other. The graphics cards are divided in 3 categories. The first group is divided in different subcategories because of the graphical problems with The Sims 3 Pets.

What graphics card do I have?
Don’t know what graphics card you have? This is easy to find using the program “dxdiag” for Windows:

  • Click the Start button
  • Click “Run” (for Vista: the search window with the text “Start Search”)
  • Enter “dxdiag” without the quotes and click OK
  • Now you will probably see the first tab “System”. Most of the graphics card data can be found in the second tab “Display”. Most people use (NVIDIA) Geforce or (ATI) Radeon graphics cards.
    There are also programs which can provide you extensive information about the components in your computer. An example is PC-Wizard (free).

Recommended requirements
For a new sytem we recommend a graphics card from subgroup 2 “Recommended requirements for The Sims 3”. This way you’ll be able to run The Sims 3 and its expansions on medium settings if the remainder of your system suffice the minimum requirements.
The Sims 3 Seasons
However the official minimum requirements won’t change with The Sims 3 Seasons, we expect the game to be much more demanding than the basic game. Graphics cards from group 2 “These cards do not meet the advised minimum specifications but are compatible with minor tweaking” will most likely have some problems with running The Sims 3 Seasons. We also strongly advise agains playing the game with a Intel GMA X3100, Radeon X300 SE, Radeon 9600 LE, GeForce 6200, GeForce 7200 GS and potential others.

Group 1: These graphics cards meet the minimum requirements for The Sims 3

Subgroup 1: Very suited for The Sims 3 and expansion packs
Subgroup 2: Recommended requirements for The Sims 3
Subgroup 3: Recommended minimum requirements for The Sims 3 Pets
Subgroup 4: Unsuited for The Sims 3 Pets
 
 

Group 2: These cards do not meet the advised minimum specifications but are compatible with minor tweaking

The game will be able to run in some circumstances on the lowest settings. The game will most likely be slower than usual and sometimes falter. Also the image quality will be less than normal. Therefore, it is certainly not advised to play The Sims 3 with a graphics card from this group. Note: this only applies to the base game! The graphics cards in this group will be insufficient for The Sims 3 Pets and maybe as well for ( a combination of) other expansion packs.
 
 

Group 3: These graphics cards do not meet the minimum requirements

The game mostly won’t be able to start or won’t be playable at all.
 


Group 1

Indication:
Tier 1 until 13: high
Tier 14 until 22: medium
Tier 23 until 28: low
 
 

Subgroup 1: Very suited for The Sims 3 and expansion packs

Tier 1
GeForce GTX 690
GeForce GTX 590
GeForce GTX 780
Radeon HD 7990
Radeon HD 6990
Radeon HD 7970
Radeon R9 280X

Tier 2
GeForce GTX 680
GeForce GTX 770
GeForce GTX 670
GeForce GTX 760
Radeon HD 7970
Radeon HD 7950
Radeon HD 7870 LE (XT)
Radeon HD 5970

Tier 3
GeForce GTX 660 Ti
GeForce GTX 660
GeForce GTX 580
Radeon R9 270X
Radeon HD 7870

Tier 4
GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost
GeForce GTX 570
GeForce GTX 480
GeForce GTX 295
Radeon HD 7850
Radeon HD 6970
Radeon HD 4870 X2

Tier 5
GeForce GTX 560 Ti
GeForce GTX 470
Radeon HD 6950
Radeon HD 5870
Radeon HD 4850 X2

Tier 6
GeForce GTX 650 Ti
GeForce GTX 560
Radeon R9 260X
Radeon HD 7790
Radeon HD 6870
Radeon HD 5850

Tier 7
GeForce GTX 465
GeForce GTX 460 (1 GB)
GeForce GTX 285
GeForce 9800 GX2
Radeon HD 7770
Radeon HD 6850

Tier 8
GeForce GTX 650
GeForce GTX 560 SE
GeForce GTX 550 Ti
GeForce GTX 460 SE
GeForce GTX 460 (768 MB)
GeForce GTX 280
GeForce GTX 275
GeForce GTX 260
Radeon HD 7750 (GDDR5)
Radeon HD 6790
Radeon HD 6770
Radeon HD 5830
Radeon HD 4890
Radeon HD 5770
Radeon HD 4870

Tier 9
GeForce GTS 450
GeForce GTS 250
GeForce GTS 150
GeForce 9800 GTX+
GeForce 9800 GTX
GeForce 8800 Ultra
Radeon HD 7750 (GDDR3)
Radeon HD 6750
Radeon HD 5750
Radeon HD 4850
Radeon HD 3870 X2

Tier 10
GeForce GT 545 (GDDR5)
GeForce 8800 GTS (512 MB)
GeForce 8800 GTX
Radeon HD 4770

Tier 11
GeForce GT 640 (DDR3)
GeForce GT 545 (DDR3)
GeForce 9800 GT
GeForce 8800 GT (512 MB)
Radeon HD 7730 (GDDR5)
Radeon HD 6670 (GDDR5)
Radeon HD 5670
Radeon HD 4830


Subgroup 2: Recommended requirements for The Sims 3

Tier 12
GeForce GT 240 (GDDR5)
GeForce 9600 GT
GeForce 8800 GTS (640 MB)
Radeon HD 6570 (GDDR5)
Radeon HD 5570 (GDDR5)
Radeon HD 3870
Radeon HD 2900 XT

Tier 13
GeForce GT 240 (DDR3)
GeForce 9600 GSO
GeForce 8800 GS
Radeon HD 7730 (DDR3)
Radeon HD 6670 (DDR3)
Radeon HD 6570 (DDR3)
Radeon HD 5570 (DDR3)
Radeon HD 4670
Radeon HD 3850 (512 MB)
Mobility Radeon HD 5730
Mobility Radeon 5650
Mobility Radeon 3870

Tier 14
GeForce GT 630 (GDDR5)
GeForce GT 440 (GDDR5)
GeForce 8800 GTS (320 MB)
GeForce 8800 GT (256 MB)
GeForce Go 8800M
Radeon HD 5550 (GDDR5)
Radeon HD 3850 (256 MB)
Radeon HD 2900 Pro
Mobility Radeon 3850

Tier 15
GeForce GT 630 (DDR3)
GeForce GT 440 (DDR3)
GeForce 7950 GX2
Radeon HD 5550 (DDR3)
Radeon HD 4650 (DDR3)
Radeon X1950 XTX

Tier 16
GeForce GT 530
GeForce GT 430
GeForce 7900 GTX
GeForce 7900 GTO
GeForce 7800 GTX (512 MB)
Radeon X1900 XTX
Radeon X1950 XT
Radeon X1900 XT

Tier 17
GeForce GT 220 (DDR3)
GeForce 7950 GT
GeForce 7900 GT
GeForce 7800 GTX
GeForce GT 540M
Radeon HD 5550 (DDR2)
Radeon HD 2900 GT
Radeon X1950 Pro
Radeon X1900 GT
Radeon X1800 XT

Tier 18
GeForce GT 220 (DDR2)
GeForce 9500 GT (GDDR3)
GeForce 8600 GTS
GeForce Go 7950 GTX
GeForce 7900 GS
GeForce 7800 GT
Radeon HD 6450
Radeon HD 4650 (DDR2)
Radeon X1950 GT
Radeon X1800 XL
Mobility Radeon 4650
Mobility Radeon X1800 XT


Subgroup 3: Recommended minimum requirements for The Sims 3 Pets

Tier 19
GeForce GT 120
GeForce 9500 GT (DDR2)
GeForce 8600 GT (GDDR3)
GeForce Go 7900 GTX
GeForce Go 7800 GTX
GeForce 7800 GS
GeForce 7600 GT
GeForce 6800 Ultra
Radeon HD 3670
Radeon HD 3650 (DDR3)
Radeon HD 2600 XT
Mobility Radeon X1900
Radeon X1800 GTO
Radeon X850 XT PE
Radeon X800 XT PE

Tier 20
GeForce GT 520
GeForce 8600 GT (DDR2)
GeForce Go 7900 GS
GeForce Go 7800
GeForce 6800 GS (PCIe)
GeForce 6800 GT
Mobility Radeon 3650
Radeon HD 3650 (DDR2)
Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT
Radeon HD 2600 Pro
Mobility Radeon X800 XT
Radeon X800 XL

Tier 21
GeForce 8600M GT
GeForce Go 7600 GT
GeForce Go 6800 Ultra
GeForce 6800 GS (AGP)
Mobility Radeon HD 2600
Radeon X850 Pro
Radeon X800 Pro
Radeon X800 GTO (256 MB)

Tier 22
GeForce 8600M GS
GeForce 7600 GS
GeForce 7300 GT (GDDR3)
GeForce Go 6800
GeForce 6800
Mobility Radeon X1800
Radeon X1600 XT
Radeon X800 GTO (128 MB)
Radeon X800

Tier 23
GeForce 9400 GT
GeForce 8500 GT
GeForce G 100
GeForce Go 7600 (128-bit)
GeForce 7300 GT
GeForce 6800 XT
GeForce 6800 LE
GeForce 6600 GT
Radeon HD 2400 XT
Radeon X1600 Pro
Radeon X1300 XT
Mobility Radeon X800
Radeon X800 SE
Radeon X800 GT
Radeon X700 Pro
Radeon 9800 XT

Tier 24
GeForce Go 6800 (128-bit)
GeForce 6600 (128-bit)
GeForce FX 5950 Ultra
GeForce FX 5900 Ultra
GeForce FX 5900
Radeon HD 3450
Mobility Radeon 3450
Radeon HD 2400 Pro
Mobility Radeon HD 2400 XT
Mobility Radeon X1600
Radeon X1300 Pro
Radeon X700
Radeon 9800 Pro
Radeon 9800

Tier 25
GeForce 8400 GS
GeForce Go 7600 (64-bit)
GeForce Go 6600
GeForce FX 5900 XT
Mobility Radeon HD 2400
Mobility Radeon X700
Radeon X600 XT
Radeon 9800 Pro (128-bit)
Mobility Radeon 9800
Radeon 9600 XT
Radeon 9500 Pro

Tier 26
GeForce 6500
Radeon X600 Pro
Radeon 9800 LE
Radeon 9600 Pro

Tier 27
GeForce 9300M GS
GeForce 8400M GS
GeForce 7300 GS
GeForce 6600 (64-bit)
Radeon 9600
Radeon 9500
Radeon X300

Below you can find Intel integrated chipsets that comply to the minimum requirements (and also the recommended minimum requirement for The Sims 3 Pets) from relatively strong to weak. Therefore these are not covered by Tier 27 but have been put together because they are difficult to be placed in this list.

Intel Extreme Graphics
– Intel HD Graphics 4400
– Intel HD Graphics 4000
– Intel HD Graphics 3000
– Intel HD Graphics (Haswell)
– Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)
– Intel HD Graphics 2000
– Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
– Intel GMA X4500HD
– Intel GMA 4500MHD
– Intel GMA X4500HD
– Intel GMA X4500
– Intel GMA 4500
– Intel GMA X3100 (graphics driver must be updated)


Subgroup 4: Unsuited for The Sims 3 Pets

Tier 28
GeForce 7200 GS*
GeForce 6200 TC*
GeForce 6200*
Radeon 9600 LE*
Radeon X300 SE*

Intel Extreme Graphics
– Intel GMA X3500*
– Intel GMA X3000
– Intel GMA 3100 (G33/G31)
– Intel GMA 3000

* For these graphics cards or integrated chipsets it is not sure if they are suited for The Sims 3 Pets, but there is a reasonable chance you will run into problems.


Group 2

GeForce series
GeForce FX 5800 Ultra
GeForce FX 5700 Ultra
GeForce FX 5800
GeForce FX 5700
GeForce FX 5600 Ultra
GeForce FX 5600
(The GeForce FX series is not supported for Windows Vista)

GeForce 7150M nForce 630M
GeForce 7050 nForce 610i
GeForce 6150SE nForce 430

Radeon series
Radeon X1270 (Xpress 1270)
Radeon X1250 (Xpress 1250)
Radeon X1200 (Xpress 1200)
Radeon X1150 (Xpress 1150)
Radeon X1100 (Xpress 1100)

 
For group 2 (excluding the FX series) it is known that the base game will run well if you have Windows XP (32-bit) and if your pc has more than 1 GB RAM. Most people who have the game running well own a pc with at least 2 GB RAM. This is reasonably to explain because most “graphics cards’ from this group work with shared memory.

The official minimum requirements for The Sims 3 mention explicitly that the Sims 3 does NOT support the Intel GMA 950, GeForce 6100- and 7100- cards. If it works, you’re lucky. Do know that when you have expansions like The Sims 3 Pets and The Sims Seasons, you can run into problems.


Group 3

GeForce series
GeForce 6150LE
GeForce 6150
GeForce Go 6150
GeForce 6100 nForce 420
GeForce 6100 nForce 405
GeForce 6100 nForce 400
GeForce 6100

GeForce FX 5200
GeForce FX 5100

Nvidia Quadro 4
Nvidia Quadro

GeForce4 460 Go
GeForce4 440 Go
GeForce4 420 Go
GeForce4 MX 460
GeForce4 MX 440
GeForce4 MX 440-SE
GeForce4 MX 420
GeForce4 Ti 4800
GeForce4 Ti 4800 SE
GeForce4 Ti 4600
GeForce4 Ti 4200
GeForce4 Ti 4200 Go

GeForce3 Ti 500
GeForce3
GeForce3 Ti 200

GeForce2 Ultra
GeForce2 Ti
GeForce2 Pro
GeForce2 GTS
GeForce2 MX 400
GeForce2 MX
GeForce2 MX 200
GeForce2 Go
GeForce2 Go 200
GeForce2 Go 100
Nvidia (Riva) TNT2
Nvidia TNT

Radeon series
Radeon 8500
Radeon 9000 Pro
Radeon 9100

Radeon 9250
Radeon 9200
Radeon 9000

Radeon 9200 SE
Radeon Xpress 200M
Radeon 7500

Radeon 7200
Radeon 7000
Radeon DDR
Radeon LE
Radeon SDR
Radeon Rage 128
Radeon Rage Fury
Radeon FireGL

Other
SiS Mirage 3
SiS 315
SiS 305
SiS 300
SiS Xabre 400
ST Micro KYRO
S3 DeltaChrome S8
S3 GammaChrome
S18 Ultra
S18 Pro
Matrox Parhelia
Matrox Millennium G550
Matrox Millennium G400
Trident Blade XP
XGI Volari
Voodoo 5 5500
Voodoo 4 4500
Voodoo 3 3500
Voodoo 3 3000
Voodoo 3 2000
Voodoo 3 1000
Voodoo Banshee

Intel Extreme Graphics
Intel GMA 950 (945GU, 945GM, 945GML en 945GMS)
Intel GMA 900
Intel GMA 500
Intel 82915 Express Chipset Family
Intel 82865 Express Chipset Family
Intel 82845 Express Chipset Family